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Showing posts with label Dellinger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dellinger. Show all posts

October 12, 2015

Dillard Greene Coffey (1912-1988)

Dillard Greene Coffey was a son of David William and Martha Etta Destimona "Dessie" Crump Coffey, born in Avery Co., NC on Dec. 7, 1912.  In 1935 he was married to Maude Dellinger, a daughter of Raymond D. and Melvina "Vina" Jennings Dellinger.

Within a few months following the union, Dillard confessed to and was arrested for the murder of  his father-in-law.  Included in the indictment was Austin Blaine Coffey, multiple times cousin to Dillard and a son of David Nathaniel and Caroline Lavinia Coffey Coffey.

The Greensboro [NC] Daily News of Dec. 29, 1936 reported Dillard's surrender and confession to the murder to Watauga Co. Sheriff Edmundson. Neither Coffey nor the Sheriff made a statement as to why he committed the murder.

In a subsequent press report by the Greensboro Record on Apr. 28, 1937, it was reported that former state representative Blaine Coffey and Dillard Coffey had been denied bail at a habeas corpus hearing before Judge A. Hall Johnston.  A trial date was not announced.

I have not found a newspaper follow-up reporting on the disposition of the two. It can be supposed they were exonerated because Austin Blaine Coffey was enumerated as a widower on Apr. 23, 1940 in Watauga Twp., Watauga Co.  That same year, in October*, Dillard registered for the WW2 draft and, in 1941, married in Johnson Co., TN, a distant cousin, Nancy Elizabeth Coffey, a daughter of William Carlton and Bessie Mae Townsend Coffey.

Dillard died on Aug. 10, 1988 in Watauga Co. and was buried at White Springs Cemetery in Blowing Rock. Nancy died on Apr. 30, 2001 and was also buried at White Springs.

*He did spend nearly three years in the state prison in Stanly Co., NC.  He was enumerated there on Apr. 20, 1940.  The May 30, 1940 edition of the Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC, reported his parole on May 29 after serving about 2 yrs., 8 mos. of a 10 to 15 year sentence for 2d degree murder.

March 16, 2013

DNA & The Augustus F. & Betty Beard Coffey Family

The family of Augustus F. Coffey
L:R rear: Archie, Spencer, George, Benson, Robert, Blaine Dillard
L:R front:  Maude, Cena, Betty Beard Coffey, and Bonnie
Photo courtesy of Brent Coffey
I have, over the past couple of days, exchanged much e-mail with Brent Coffey of Maryland concerning his descent from Edward and Ann Powell Coffey.  The exchange resulted from his recent DNA test which does show him to be an Edward descendant.

The problem [if there is one] seems to be one particular marker in his DNA that does not match most of those in the Edward group of the DNA project.  I won't go into a discussion about DNA because I frankly do not understand enough to hold an intelligent discussion.

However, the mis-matched marker also appears in the the DNA of another tested Coffey who descends from Thomas Coffey and Elizabeth Smith; Thomas being a son of John and Jane Graves Coffey.  Brent claims descent from Thomas' brother, Reuben and his wife Sarah Scott Coffey.  So, the question raised by Coffey DNA guru Fred Coffey was how positive Brent is that he descends from Reuben and not Thomas?!

Brent tells us that he descends from Reuben and Sarah Scott Coffey through their son Joseph > Jacob Zachariah > Jesse Patterson > Augustus F. > Blaine Dillard > Blaine Dillard, Jr.

[NB:  The children of Reuben and Sally are not entirely agreed upon by researchers.  The following then may be totally irrelevant in deciding who Brent's ancestor was.]

Joseph and his wife Isabella Lindsay had another son, Elisha born about the same time as Jacob Zachariah.  Both are thought to have been born in the 1813-1815 time frame and, could be twins.  I suggested that the certain DNA marker that does not match might be a result of the possibility that Elisha and Jacob were twins.

I don't believe a consensus has yet been reached and the questions remains open.

Blaine Dillard Coffey &
Faye Dell Van Klaveren
Wedding Photo
Photo courtesy of Brent Coffey
Keeping within that family, I learned from Brent that his grandfather was Blaine Dillard Coffey, born March 4, 1915 in Avery Co., NC to Augustus F. "Gus" Coffey and wife Betty Beard.  He was the eighth of their nine children. In error, I had him married to Maude Dillinger/Dellinger in Caldwell Co., NC on Jul. 13, 1935.  As it turns out, a Dillard Coffey did marry Maude but, it was Dillard Greene Coffey, a son of David William and Martha Etta Destimonia "Dessie" Crump Coffey.*  Dillard Greene and Blaine Dillard were second cousins, both descending from Jacob Zachariah Coffey, the son of Joseph.

Blaine Dillard was married on Sep. 11, 1946 in North Carolina to Faye Dell Van Klaveren, sister to a WWII shipmate of Blaine.  She was the daughter of Dick and Tillie Van Kotten Van Klaveren, Dutch emigrants who first settled in Iowa and later moved to Texas.  Faye was born in Cotulla, LaSalle Co., TX on Feb. 19, 1928.





  Jack







*Readers who have a copy of my Edward Coffey Project DVD or, who have copied my research from elsewhere, should make a note of this change.




February 27, 2011

Finley T. and Mary Delight Clark Loudermelt - Corrections


Corrections/additions highlighted.

The Loudermelt surname is spelled any number of ways, depending, it seems, on the specific family.  One of my e-mail friends, Lloyd Coffey of Alexander Co., NC, wrote in response to my question about this, that families in his area of NC spell their surnames "Loudermelt", "Loudermilt", and "Lowdermilk".  His research into this family has uncovered such spellings as "Lautermilch," the original German spelling, as well as all of the above spellings except with the letter A instead of O.
Mary D. Clark Loudermelt
When Finley married Mary Delight Clark in Mitchell Co. on Dec. 25, 1883, his surname was spelled Lawdermilk on the marriage record.  In the 1920 census it was Loudermilk; Loudermelt in 1910 and Loudermilt in 1920.  I haven't found his death certificate, or any death record for that matter that would tell me how it was spelled on that document.  When Mary died in Taylorsville, Alexander Co. on Jan. 31, 1954, her name was spelled Loudermelt on the death certificate.  She was buried at Rocky Face Cemetery in Alexander Co.

Naming only their children known to have married Coffeys

Their first child was John Minford*, born Oct. 27, 1884, died Oct. 20, 1927.   John married Celia L. Coffey* on Oct. 7, 1910 in the Globe.  Celia was the daughter of Eldelano "Lano" and Mary E. Austin Coffey.  Celia was born in Caldwell Co., NC in Mar., 1891 and died Dec. 23, 1973.  Their children were Lottie, Eva Mae, Annie and Myrtle.  If the birth and death dates for John and Celia are close, then Celia lived for another 46 years after John died and, may have remarried.

Finley and Mary's fifth child was a daughter, Ella Mae, born Oct., 1891, died Feb. 11, 1975 in Lenoir, Caldwel Co.  She married Thomas Newton "Black Tom" Coffey on Dec. 5, 1909 in Mortimer, Caldwel Co.  Tom was the son of Jesse (Cleveland?) "Red Eye" Coffey and Lucinda Louise "Lou" Coffey Coffey.  Tom and Ella may had at least 13 children who produced a long line of descendants for the couple.  Please contact me for more info on their children.

Eliza Loudermelt Coffey
Jesse C. Coffey
Eliza was the sixth child born to Finly and Mary.  She was born Dec, 23, 1892 and died May. 18, 1987 at Hiddenite in Alexander Co.  Eliza married Jesse Cleveland, another son of "Red Eye" and Lou Coffey.  Jesse Cleveland was born Dec., 1888 in Caldwell Co., and died Sep. 28, 1923 in Norton, Wise Co., VA.  Jesse was shot and died of septicemia, and accounts of the shooting vary.  It appears to have been accidental.  Their children were six who also provided Jesse and Eliza with a long list of descendants.  Same offer as above for more info.  He is buried at Glenco Cemetery at Big Stone Gap, Wise Co., VA.  Eliza is buried at Rocky Face.

Romilous Linney followed Eliza in Nov., 1895 and married Alberta "Bertie" Coffey, a daughter of Samuel Monroe and Josephine "Josie" Dellinger Coffey.  Readers who need more info on Samuel and Josie should use the upper right "search this blog" window to find previous blogs about this family.  Romilous' death date and place of burial is not known to me.  Bertie is buried at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Lenoir.  I have only one child for the, a son by the name of Ronald "Ronnie" Loudermelt, born May 17, 1921 in Avery Co., died Apr. 28, 2010 in Lenoir. He is also buried at Woodlawn.

Ronald "Ronnie" was a son of Albert Abner Loudermilk by Bertie.   He and Bertie were not married.  Romilous "Rom" died of meningitis at age 19 and is buried at Lowdermilk Cemetery on Anthony Creek Road in Avery Co., near Carey's Flat.

When Romilous died in 1915, Bertie was just 10 years old and they were probably not romantically connected.  Bertie later married Clyde Johnson**.  This married produced at least one child, Essie Johnson.  I haven't found out what happened to Clyde but, sometime later she was with Albert Loudermelt**, a brother to Romilous.  Marriage - if there was one - to Albert apparently did not last too long because Albert married Julia Jennings** while Bertie was still living.  Finally, on May 25, 1926 Bertie*** married Andrew Jackson "Andy" Jennings and gave him at least eight children between 1925 and 1946.  Andy Jennings**** was brother to Julia who married Albert Loudermelt. Albert Abner (Ab) Loudermelt was shot and killed on Aug. 14, 1929 by Paris Coffey.

The last child that I am aware of being born to Finley and Mary was Mary Octavia on Oct. 9,1903 in Avery Co., died Mar. 31, 1977 in Boone, Watauga Co.  She married Fredrick Abner Coffey on May 12, 1922 in Carter Co., TN.  Fredrick was born Jan. 18, 1902 in Caldwell Co. to George Washington, Jr. and Tempey S. Calloway Coffey.  He died Apr. 6, 1930 in Banner Elk, then in Avery Co.  Frederick is buried at Boone Fork cemetery while Mary rests at Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock.  They had five children:  George, Mary Hazel, Roy Lee, Everette and Ola.



*Birth and Death dates unsourced.
**No marriage record found so far.

***Some of Bertie's marriages may be out of sequence or perhaps not marriages at all.  The only date that I have confirmed for Bertie is the one to Andy.
****He was also brother to Lavinia Jennings who married Raymond Dellinger, son of Reubed D. Keever and Rebecca S. Coffey Dellinger.  The Jennings were children of Van and Daisy Shelton Jennings.

September 26, 2009

William M. Coffey and Martha Jane Sharpe

Continuing a bit with the family of Annie Lou Coffey who married Horry Thomas Austin:

Annie's father was William M. Coffey, born Dec. 1, 1855 in Buffalo Creek, a part of Wilkes Co., NC that later became Caldwell Co.  He was a son of William, Jr. and wife Margaret Robbins Coffey.  Annie's mother was Martha Jane Sharp, a daughter of James and Mary Ann Luellan Sharp and found in the upper division of Wilkes Co., NC in 1860.

The children of William and Martha Jane Sharp Coffey were:

Millard Cicero, born Feb. 1879, Caldwell Co., died Feb. 4, 1962 in Gastonia, Gaston Co., NC.  He is buried at Gaston Memorial Park in Gastonia.  Millard married Fannie Davis c1898 and together they had at least four children:  Purnell; Michael Luther; Clinard Yates; and Millard Reeves.

Richard Andrew, born May 16, 1880 in Caldwell Co., died Jan. 8, 1954 in Lincolnton Twp., Lincoln Co., NC.  He married Edna Laura McFadden c1907.  She was born Jul 13, 1887 in Rutherford Co., NC and died Aug. 30, 1967 in Hickory, Catawba Co.  Her parents were John W. and Regina Dellinger McFadden.  Richard and Edna are buried at River View Cemetery in Lincolnton.  Their children were William Glen; Dennis Dixon; Mary Lou; Alice; and Claude Wilson.

James Thomas, born Sep. 18, 1881 in Caldwell Co., died Apr. 10, 1962 in Lincolnton.  He married Celia Hix c1912.  She was born c1890 in NC and died before 1930.  He is buried at River View.  Children were Pervey; Vance, Juanita and one unnamed child.

Jesse Lawrence, born Jun. 19, 1883 in Lincoln Co., died Dec. 6, 1942 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co.  He married c1905 Estelle Virginia "Stella" Austin, a daughter of George Thomas and Sarah Isabell Simmons Austin.  Stella was born Mar. 31, 1883 in Patterson Twp., and died Sep. 24, 1959 in Lenoir.  Both are buried at the Yadkin Baptist Church cemetery in Lenoir.  Children were:  Floyd Jasper; Annie Lee; Carson A.; Carl; Esther Ruth; Geneva and Vurley L.

Bessie followied Annie Lou.  She was born in Feb., 1892 and married James Marvin Laney c1907.  Their children were Laurence; Lavonia; W. Blair; and Floyd Dure.

Bertha M., born Jul. 29, 1893 in Lincolnton, died there on Mar. 1, 1974.  She married Edward Brown.  I know of only one child, Helen, born c1918.  Bertha is buried at Southside Baptist Church cemetery in Lincolnton.

Gertrude G., born Apr., 1896 and Ruth E., born Nov., 1898.  I have not yet found any marriage or family information for these two daughters.

Please drop me a note if you can add to or correct any of this information.

November 5, 2008

Howard Milton & Deatte Elsie Coffey Bolick

Today's issue of the Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC News-Topic contains the obituary for Howard Milton Bolick of Lenoir.  He was born on May 11, 1923 in Caldwell and died there on Nov. 3.

His obituary:

Obituary, The News-Topic, Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC, Nov. 5, 2008

Howard Milton Bolick, 85, of Lenoir, went home to be with his Lord and his loving wife on Monday, Nov. 3, 2008 at Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care.

He was born May 11, 1923 in Caldwell County to the late David Anthony and Dovie Bolick. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Deatte Bolick; two brothers; eight sisters; and one grandson.

Mr. Bolick was a member of College Avenue Baptist Church. He was retired from Hammary Furniture Industry.

Survivors include three daughters, Jean Nelson of Lenoir, Gail Bass and husband James of Lenoir, and Phyllis Billings of Lenoir; three sons, Lonnie Ray Byrd of Collettsville, Gerald Keith Bolick and wife Barbara of Lenoir, and Dale Bolick of Avery County; son-in-law, Claude Billings Jr.; two sisters, Emmie Hollars of Blowing Rock, N.C., and Velma Story of Kannapolis, N.C.; 15 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren; and all of his hunting and fishing buddies and friends; and a brother in heart, Wayne Coffey; and his Hospice friends Gene and Sadie Woods.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, Nov. 7, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. at the Meadowbrook Baptist Church with the Rev. John Jackson and the Rev. Steve Butler officiating. Mr. Bolick will lie in state 30 minutes prior to the service. Burial will follow in the Woodlawn Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008 at the Meadowbrook Baptist Church.

Serving as pallbearers will be John Hampton, Terry Huffman, Bruce Baldacci, James Bass, Corey Bolick and Skip Smith.

Memorials may be made to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood St., Lenoir, NC 28645 or to Meadowbrook Baptist Church, 914 Meadowland Dr., Lenoir, NC 28645.

Online condolences may be made at www.bass-smithgranite@charterinternet.com.

Bass-Smith Granite is serving the Howard Milton Bolick family.
Howard had lost his wife, Deatte Elsie Coffey on Aug. 24, 2007 in Caldwell Co.

Her obituary:

Deatte Bolick

Deatte Coffey Bolick, 87, of Peak Place, Lenoir, went home to be with her Lord on Friday, August 24, 2007 at Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care.

She was born May 30, 1920 in Caldwell County to the late Samuel M. Coffey and Josephine Dellinger Coffey. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by seven brothers, four sisters and one grandson.

Mrs. Bolick was a member of Meadowbrook Baptist Church.

Survivors include her husband Howard M. Bolick of the home; three sons, Lonnie Ray Byrd of Collettsville, Gerald Keith Bolick and wife Barbara of Lenoir, Thomas Dale Bolick and wife Lisa of Avery County; three daughters, Jean Nelson of Lenoir; Gail Bass and husband James of Lenoir, Phyllis Billings and husband Claude Jr., of Lenoir; 15 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Funeral Services will be on Monday, August 27, 2007, 12:00 noon at Meadowbrook Baptist Church with Reverend Steve Butler and Reverend Boyd Coffey Jr., officiating.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 prior to the service at Meadowbrook Baptist Church. Burial will be in the Woodlawn Memorial Gardens.

Serving as pallbearers will be Skip Smith, James Bass, Bruce Baldacci, Roger Hamby, Roger Coffey, and Timothy Bolick. 

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood St., Lenoir, NC 28645 or to MeadowBrook Baptist Church, 914 Meadowland Dr., Lenoir, NC 28645.

Bass-Smith Granite Funeral Service is assisting the family with arrangements.

July 16, 2008

Roy Lee Coffey

Roy Lee Coffey
The Jul 15, 2008 on-line edition of the Watauga Democrat, Watauga Co., NC, included the obituary for Roy Lee Coffey who died Jul. 13, 2008.

Roy was the son of Frederick Abner and Mary Octavia Loudermelt Coffey, and was born Feb. 16, 1926 in Caldwell Co., NC.

Frederick was the son of George Washington, Jr. and Tempy S. Calloway Coffey, and was born Jan. 18, 1902 in Caldwell Co. He died Apr. 6, 1930 in Banner Elk, Avery Co., NC. Frederick and Mary Octavia were married May 15, 1922 in Carter Co., TN. She was born Oct. 9, 1903 in Avery Co. to Finley T. and Mary Clark Loudermelt, and died Mar. 31, 1977 in Boone, Watauga Co.

Roy's siblings, as I know them:

George, born 1922

Everette, born Oct. 12, 1927, married Elizabeth Antonio Lentz, a daughter of William Council and Martha Elizabeth Suddreth Lentz. Elizabeth was born Apr. 28, 1932 in Caldwell Co., and died Apr. 27, 2003 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co.

Viola, born May 14, 1929, married Arnold (Red) Church. He was born Dec. 20, 1916 in Watauga Co., and died Feb. 15, 1968 in Raleigh, Wake Co., NC. Arnold was the son of Manuel and Elizabeth Hodges Church.

Another son of George and Tempy was Paris Coffey, born c1906. He married Anna Dellinger on May 24, 1930 in Watauga Co. Anna was the daughter of Reuben and Maude Rebecca Coffey Dellinger. Maude was born Feb. 6, 1891 in Caldwell Co. to William Pinkney and Nancy Caroline Gragg Coffey.

Contact me at the above e-mail address to add to or correct any of this information.

June 18, 2007

Elkanna and Elizabeth (Betty) Godsey Dellinger

Elkanna was a brother to Reuben. He married Betty on Mar. 15, 1848 in North Carolina, and probably in Rockingham Co. They appeared there in the 1850 and 1860 census. Elkanna is thought to have died in 1865 and Betty in 1900.

There were at least nine children born to this couple:

Obedience C. Dellinger, born c1849 - no other information.

Mary Frances Dellinger, born c1851, died Jun. 27, 1931. She married her cousin James Pinkney Dellinger. Read Reuben's blog entry for more information.

Martha A. (Mattie) Dellinger, born c1854 in Rockingham Co., died 1930 in Caldwell Co. She married Thomas Coffey in Caldwell Co. in 1891. Thomas had previously been married to Martha Cordelia Gragg and had children: Monroe, born 1883, died 1955; John Sherman, born May 1886; and William Kelly, born 1888, died 1940. It is yet unclear whether he and Mattie had children of their own.

Thomas R. Dellinger, born c1856 in Rockingham Co., married Eveline McKinney. There are two know children: Sarari Josephine (Josie), born Jan. 1, 1883, died Mar. 19, 1979. She married Samuel Monroe Coffey on Dec. 15, 1901 in North Carolina; and Samuel Dellinger, born c1888, who married Julia Coffey c1911. Julia was a daughter of Eldelano (L.D.) and Mary E. Austin Coffey.

Joseph C. N. Dellinger, born Nov. 1858, died 1938 in North Carolina. He married Nancy Elizabeth (Lizzie) Coffey, born Mar. 1860, died 1940. She was the daughter of Zacheus (Zack) and Margaret (Granny Peggy) Coffey Coffey. Joseph and Lizzie had at least five children: Margaret, born Aug., 1879; Thomas B., born Aug., 1881; Mary M., born Jul. 1885; Rosa Belle, born Sep. 19, 1890, died Aug. 1, 1973; and Dora S., born Aug., 1896. Rosa Bell married Samuel Keller.

Frances Elizabeth (Fanny) Dellinger, born 1864 in Caldwell Co., died 1946 in Norfolk, VA. She married David Obadiah Gragg, a son of Leason and Martha Renia Coffey Gragg. They had at least 10 children, some of which married back into the Coffey, Gragg and Dellinger families. I will write more about this family at a later date.

Walter Dellinger married Polly Woodie - no other information except that they had a son named Charles.

Biddie Dellinger - no other information.

John Dellinger - no other information.

Please contact me with additions and/or corrections at the e-mail address below.

June 5, 2007

Reuben and Mary Jane Coffey Dellinger

Update 2-28-2011:  Sevina W. Dellinger and Eugenia Lavinia (Genie) Dellinger are the same person. I mistook an S for an L in the 1860 census. Thanks to Lloyd Coffey for pointing this out.


Reuben Dellinger was born Oct. 20, 1920 in Lincoln Co., NC, the son of Henry and Katherine Setzer Dellinger. Reuben was a brother to Elkanna Dellinger, born c1818, died 1865, who married Elizabeth (Betty) Godsey of Rockingham Co., NC.

Mary Jane Coffey was the daughter of Jesse and Margaret Edmiston (var.), born Oct. 19, 1827 in Caldwell Co., NC and died Apr. 11, 1859 in Yancey Co., NC. I have not found a marriage date for them, but it was likely c1846 as their first child was born in December of 1847.

Mary's father was a son of Reuben and Sarah (Sally) Scott Coffey; her mother a daughter of William Harrison and Mary Suddreth Edmiston. Reuben was a son of John and Jane Graves Coffey.

Children of Reuben and Mary Jane Coffey Dellinger were:

James Pinkney Dellinger, born Dec. 31, 1847, died Jun. 21, 1896. He married his first cousin, Mary Frances Dellinger on Aug. 24, 1872. Mary Frances was the daughter of Elkanna and Betty Godsey Dellinger. James and Mary's children were (as I have them) Astor Jane, born May 25, 1882, died Feb. 10, 1963 who married her distant cousin, Julius Adore Coffey. The second child of James and Mary was Fannie Mae, born May 3, 1884 and died Oct. 26, 1966 in Watauga Co., NC. Fannie married her first cousin, Leason Elkanah Gragg, a son of David Obadiah and Frances Dellinger Gragg.

Elkana Hunter Dellinger, born c1850 - no other information.

David R. P. Dellinger, born c1853 - no other information.

Melvin William Dellinger, born Sep. 24, 1855 - no other information.

Eugenia Lavinia (Genie) Dellinger, born 1857, died 1897, married her first cousin, Julius Calvin Coffey, a son of Zacheus (Zack) and Margaret (Granny Peggy) Coffey Coffey. They had at least eight children: Mary Adalaide, born c1880; Rachel Carathia, born Oct. 20, 1882, died Feb. 22, 1972; Reuben Zachariah, born Jun. 15, 1884, died Jun. 12, 1961; Serena Leantine, born Apr. 1887; Julius C., born May, 1889; Flavah M., born Dec., 1890; Nora Celia, born 1882, died Feb. 22, 1951; and Zack, no dates.

Sevina W. Dellinger, born c1858 - no other information.

For most of their lives Reuben and Mary Jane lived and raised their children in Watauga Co. (1850 and 1860 census). I understand that Reuben was buried in Mitchell Co., NC. Mary Jane died as a result of being crushed while grinding corn at Reuben's mill.

The following is from Toe River Valley Heritage - North Carolina, Vol. 1, Page 193:
"Kathy Gunter Sullivan writes that according to David Dellinger's," (sic) [I believe "Bible" is the missing word] "his mother Mary Jane (Coffey) died on 4/11/1859. The circumstances of her death appear in a personal journal kept by Jacob ("Uncle Jake") Carpenter. Though Mr. Carpenter's recollection of the date differs from the Bible entry, the indelible horror of that day is easily imagined. Here is Mr. Carpenter's account: "1859. Mary Dilinger ag 49 was cilde in mill her tress was cot rond shaf and mashed flat gin trane she lay 3 ours in mill for was fond Jun 11 I holp pol out Jacob Carpenter." The version in modern spelling and punctuation, reads: "Mary Dellinger, aged 49 (actual age was 31), was killed in a mill; her dress was caught round the shaft and she was mashed flat by the gin (engine) in the trane (drain/channel). She lay three hours in the mill before she was found, June 11 (actually April). I helped pull her out. (signed) Jacob Carpenter.
"Mary Jane's broken body was laid to rest in the Methodist churchyard adjacent to the graves of Reuben's parents. One family tradition is that her tombstone was erected by son David Dellinger after he became an adult, and there it stands: Mary J., wife of Reuben Dellinger, died April 11, 1859, aged 31 y, 5m, 12d.
"David Dellinger spoke of his mother to his grandchildren, who report: "Grandpa said he was only six years old when his Mother was killed in a mill, but he remembered how she would pick him up and carry him to the house when he would follow her to the mill barefooted" (Ruth Dellinger Lamkin). He recalled, too, how his Aunt Katherine (Dellinger) Carpenter had gathered Mary Jane's five bereft children into her own large brood and had mothered them along with her own."
[Update Jul. 5, 2007: Check out the Dellinger Grist Mill website]

January 14, 2007

Samuel Monroe and Safari Josephine Dellinger Coffey

Corrected and updated July 19, 2007

This photograph is of Samuel Monroe and Safari Josephine (Josie) Dellinger Coffey. With them is their grand-daughter, Linda Thompson, child of Sam and Josie's daughter Minnie who married William Thompson.

Samuel was born Jan. 17, 1881 in North Carolina, a son of Eldelano (L.D.) Coffey and Mary E. Austin. He died Aug. 20, 1970 in North Carolina.

Josie was born Jan. 1, 1883 in North Carolina, a daughter of Thomas and Eveline McKinney Dellinger. She died Mar. 19, 1979 in North Carolina.

Sam and Josie were parents of twelve children:

  • Clayton McDonald (Mack), born Jun. 1, 1903, died Jun. 11, 1992 married Lany Esther McCroskey in Mountain City, Johnson Co., TN. They had eight children: Bertha May, Gladys Virginia, Nellie Alilene, James Edward (Jim), Margaret Josephine, Clayton McDonald, Jr., and Lonnie Ray. Another son, born 1959, was Steven who was adopted by Clayton and Lany.
  • Alberta (Bertie), married three times. Her first husband was Andrew Jackson (Andy) Jennings with whom she had eight children: Essie (?), Pansy, Claude, Paul Van, Mable Christine, Peggy Ann, Essie and Virginia Dare. Her second husband was Abner J. Loudermilt with whom she had one child, Ronnie, born c1927. Her third husband was Clyde Johnson with whom she had one child, Essie.
  • Robin
  • Minnie married William L. Thompson Sep., 1934 in Watauga Co. They had at least four children: Carolyn, J. T., Charles, and Linda.
  • Lydia Eva, born Jul. 29, 1914, married William Thurman Gragg. Children were: Harold, Beauford Dean, Lewis Dayton, Jack, Niola and Richard.
  • Wilson Woodrow, born Sep. 26, 1916, died Jun. 21, 1994, married Ethel Vada Coffey, daughter of Thomas Leroy (Tom) and Alice Sanders Coffey. Their children were: Douglas, Daniel, Emma Elizabeth, Maude Aleen, Betty Ann, Dennis Charles, and Rebecca Kay.
  • Woodrow Wilson, born Sep. 26, 1916, died c1932
  • Reubin
  • Oscar Joseph, born Dec. 2, 1917
  • Deatte Elsie, born May 29, 1920, married first to Lonnie Byrd and had one child, Lonnie, Jr. She married second to Howard Milton Bolick and had five children: Phyllis Ann, Gerald Keith, Sheldia Jean, Thomas Dale and Gail.
  • Alfred Boyd, born May 21, 1922 married Mary Etheline Woodie and had children: Kathleen Mary, Lela Ann, Alfred Jr., John Samuel, Roger Dallas, Deborah Kay, and Linda Bernice.
  • Pauline, born Dec. 21, 1924, married Otis Arthur Bell and had children: Bobbie Jean, Otis Wayne, Rhonda Gene and Chris Allen.

Additional information is available. Please send additions and/or corrections to me at the e-mail address below.